ENGLISH FOR LEGAL PURPOSES (Intermediate) (EXERCISE I44E149)

Legal secretaries can work in many different areas of the law, including litigation, corporate law, criminal law, property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, and family law. Read the conversation below and then answer the questions.

Bob:  Hi, Jane. I haven't seen you since we finished the secretarial course. I hear

          you got a job.

Jane:  Yes, I started work as a legal secretary for a law firm in November.

Bob:  That sounds important. How were you able to get a job like that?

Jane:  I did another course and specialized in legal terminology and procedures,

          and got myself a certificate. I applied for jobs in law firms, corporate legal

          departments and government offices. Then I got this job.

Bob:   So what sort of work do you do? Isn't it boring?

Jane:  Not at all. Mostly I have the same duties as other secretaries. I prepare  

          correspondence and legal papers such as summonses, appeals, deeds, wills,

          affidavits and briefs. I'm responsible for reviewing and proof-reading outgoing

          documents. I attend court, meetings and conferences to take notes, minutes and

          dictation as well. So you see, it's not at all boring.

Bob:   Isn't that a lot of responsibility?

Jane:  Yes, I suppose it is, but I work under the supervision of a lawyer.

Reading Comprehension:

How does Jane’s friend know that she has a new job?

(a)  He read it.      (b) Somebody told him.      (c) Ana told him.

How did Jane get a job as a legal secretary?

(a) She specialized and applied for the job.      (b)  She worked to get experience.

(c) She worked in a government office.

What did Jane have to do to get the job?

(a)  She had to go back to college.       (b)  She had to do a secretarial course.

(c)  She had to specialize.

What sort of work does she do?

(a)  Secretarial and document preparation.   (b)  She makes the coffee.

(c)  She visits law firms.

Who supervises her work?

(a)  She has no supervisor.    (b)  She is freelance.    (c) She is supervised by a lawyer.

ANSWERS:

Reading Comprehension:

How does Jane’s friend know that she has a new job?

(a)  He read it.      (b) Somebody told him.      (c) Ana told him.

How did Jane get a job as a legal secretary?

(a) She specialized and applied for the job.      (b)  She worked to get experience.

(c) She worked in a government office.

What did Jane have to do to get the job?

(a)  She had to go back to college.       (b)  She had to do a secretarial course.

(c)  She had to specialize.

What sort of work does she do?

(a)  Secretarial and document preparation.   (b)  She makes the coffee.

(c)  She visits law firms.

Who supervises her work?

(a)  She has no supervisor.    (b)  She is freelance.    (c) She is supervised by a lawyer.

TO PRINT